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Is it there yet?

Edgy DC Aug 31 2005 09:28 AM

Forgive me but I'm high right now. Are fans of other teams --- not hating --- but resenting the very existence of David Wright yet? The way we've seen other teams get young hitters' who are mature way too young, who make opposition fans always conscious of their presence in the lineup, even when they're seven slots away and maybe two relief pitchers down the road. Not hating him so much as hating their reliever for giving up a two-out walk down when up by three because, hag nabbit, if they don't get this next guy (who's really tough) HIMSELF is going to be coming up with the tying run on base. Not hating him so much as hating his team's fans, because what have they done that this beautiful young masher should be their birthright? Not hating him so much as hating the inevitablity. He's going to get a homer. He always does. If he doesn't, it's an opposite field double. He always does. If not, it's a walk. He always does. If not, he's going to get one of those ten-pitch at-bats that wear down our pitcher. He always... Oh, we got him? Lucky. He'll still get us next time. Not hating him so much as hating their owners, their GMs, and their scouts, and poring over draft lists to see the forgotten chumps their teams drafted. Hating him -- not really hating him, but you get the idea -- like us and Dave Parker, Andre Dawson, Mike Schmidt, Tim Raines, Ryne Sandberg, Barry Bonds, Larry Walker, Jeff Bagwell, Chipper Jones, Scott Rolen, Albert Pujols. Pat Burrell, too, at least to us. Is he making fans of other teams, not hate him so much, but hate baeball? That's what I guess I'm asking.

Yancy Street Gang Aug 31 2005 09:33 AM

When I see a team promote a good young player like Albert Pujols, I'm much more likely to feel hate than envy. (Both though, are deadly sins, I believe.) I doubt that David Wright is there yet. I think that something like a batting title, or a postseason showcase could get him there, though.

Edgy DC Aug 31 2005 09:38 AM

Forgive me but I'm high.

silverdsl Aug 31 2005 09:39 AM

I happen to enjoy watching the development of good young players no matter what team they're with. Amazing players are compelling to watch, and even more so when they're younger and fairly new to the majors because you wonder if you're watching a player who could really turn into something special, the type of player who could make history or have a hall of fame career.

seawolf17 Aug 31 2005 09:46 AM

Mike & Mike mentioned Wright in the same breath as the letters "MVP" this morning. If this team wins the Wild Card, he's a contender.

Rotblatt Aug 31 2005 09:48 AM

I think among rabid fans, he's already there, but he's not a household name yet. I can't tell you the number of times I've been browsing the SoSH board and seen, "David Wright did X yesterday. Wouldn't he look sick batting behind Manny & Ortiz?" The beautiful part is that Jose is another potential "Oh, shit" player, as in "Oh, shit, HE'S on base" and they just KNOW he's going to score a run.

Frayed Knot Aug 31 2005 10:02 AM

One thing about Wright is that the first (and occasionally correct) reaction from fans elsewhere is often to dismiss guys like him as good but partially also a product of NYC hype. In this case however, Wright actually managed to fly under the radar for not only much of his minor league career but also his first partial ML season as well as he got somewhat lost underneath a really bad Met year during which the on-again/off-again start by Reyes and the imported Matsui adjustment were more heavily watched.

ScarletKnight41 Aug 31 2005 10:03 AM

Does anyone hate Bobby Crosby from the A's. To me, he and Wright are analogous, and I haven't noticed any anti-Crosby backlash.

Edgy DC Aug 31 2005 10:04 AM

]I happen to enjoy watching the development of good young players no matter what team they're with. Yah, sure, and I kinda make a point that I don't really hate any of those players.* I just hate the world when they beat my team. *Barry Bonds sure ain't on my Christmas card list, though.

Bret Sabermetric Aug 31 2005 11:16 AM

Edgy DC wrote: [I just hate the world when they beat my team. ] Hate's a lovely emotion sometimes.

sharpie Aug 31 2005 11:21 AM

David Wright is a far better hitter than Bobby Crosby.

ScarletKnight41 Aug 31 2005 11:28 AM

Crosby did win the AL ROY award last year, so he gets his share of promotion. That has to contribute to the hate factor, if there is one.

Vic Sage Aug 31 2005 11:31 AM

i love David Wright, but its harder to find a good defensive SS that hits like Crosby than a 3bman who hits like Wright. Crosby was ROY last year and, after returning from a serious injury this year, is playing even better. Don't get me wrong... i'm thrilled to have as complete a player as Wright has shown to be and to watch him grow up in the Mets org and start to get the kudos he deserves. I just don't think we need to underestimate Crosby to appreciate Wright.

ScarletKnight41 Aug 31 2005 11:35 AM

The only reason I brought up Crosby is that I do think he's an analogous player to Wright in a lot of ways. And to answer the question of whether anyone hates Wright, I think it's relevant to ask, for comparison's sake, whether people hate Crosby. Do you hate Crosby? Does anyone?

Edgy DC Aug 31 2005 11:38 AM

I have no passionate interest one way or the other. He's in the American League. He's a character on a TV show, a museum piece under glass. This isn't "I hate outstanding young players." It's "I feel helpless and mournful and self-pitying and pathetic getting beaten by other teams' outstanding young players." I'm hoping that David Wright can impact the race (and many more) the way Albert Pujols impacts the race --- by depressing the morale of any opposing player or fan who gazes upon his youthful perfection, invulnerability, and loveliness.

Elster88 Aug 31 2005 12:08 PM

You really have a man-crush on Wright don't you? I don't blame you. _____________________________ This post was made under the posting designation 168) Ellis Valentine

Iubitul Aug 31 2005 02:10 PM

ScarletKnight41 wrote: Do you hate Crosby? Does anyone? I'm starting to...

Valadius Aug 31 2005 02:14 PM

I wasn't happy he won ROY last year, with that pitiful .239 batting average and .319 OBP.

Iubitul Aug 31 2005 02:22 PM

I know David Wright, and Bobby Crosby is no David Wright...

martin Aug 31 2005 03:55 PM

]his youthful perfection, invulnerability, and loveliness. "loveliness" is a word i would like to see used more often to describe baseball players. i wouldnt mind an occasional "delightful" or an "enchanting" either. on a philly radio station i heard a jealous fan say: "damn david wright and his glorious pulchritudinousness"

Edgy DC Aug 31 2005 04:07 PM

It's there.

Zvon Aug 31 2005 04:13 PM

Wright now the thing I like best about Wright is where his head is at. He's like a kid who's swept up in the wonder of it all. Am I wright or am I wright?

ScarletKnight41 Aug 31 2005 09:07 PM

You can't hate a guy with a [url=http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050831&content_id=1191640&vkey=news_oak&fext=.jsp&c_id=oak]broken ankle[/url] :(

mlbaseballtalk Aug 31 2005 09:19 PM

ScarletKnight41 wrote: Crosby did win the AL ROY award last year, so he gets his share of promotion. That has to contribute to the hate factor, if there is one. He's not yet at the Tejada/Chavez level yet where fans of other teams in big markets (wink wink, nudge nudge) start salivating on getting them in deadline deals or as free agents

Valadius Sep 01 2005 08:41 PM

Wright and Crosby were drafted in the same year, 2001. Some other notable major leaguers from the class of '01: Joe Mauer, Min Mark Prior, ChC Mark Teixeira, Tex Chris Burke, Hou Casey Kotchman, LAA Aaron Heilman, NYM Mike Fontenot, Bal Brad Hennessey, SF Jeremy Bonderman, Det Noah Lowry, SF Todd Linden, SF Andy Sisco, KC Kelly Shoppach, Bos J.J. Hardy, Mil Dallas McPherson, LAA Danny Haren, Oak Jeff Keppinger, NYM Kole Strayhorn, NYM Ryan Howard, Phi Chad Tracy, Ari Dan Johnson, Oak